Mesothelioma - What is Mesothelioma?
As with all cancers, mesothelioma develops when mutations occur within a cell's DNA. The mutations cause the cell to expand and multiply without being controlled, leading to the formation of a tumor.
The symptoms of mesothelioma vary on the type and location. For instance, pleural mesothelioma results in fluid accumulation in the lining of the chest cavity called pleural effusion.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is most often able to be diagnosed by a family physician. They will talk to the patient about their symptoms and conduct an examination. They may also order various tests.
These tests are used to assess the health of an individual's overall and the effectiveness of their organs. Blood tests can be used to identify certain chemical substances produced by cells that have mesothelioma. X-rays can also be helpful, especially for people with pleural cancer. They can reveal the accumulation of fluid and thickening of the pleura. MRI scans can be used to check the abdomen of people with peritoneal pleural mesothelioma for indications of cancer.
The doctor is likely to want to take a sample of the area where the cancer is growing called biopsy. Then, they will send the sample to a lab for analysis. They will search for mesothelioma cells in the tissue, and determine how the cells are growing and if they are spreading. The type of mesothelioma cells carry is crucial to the prognosis of mesothelioma. There are three types of mesothelioma epithelioid (which accounts for 70% of diagnoses), and the sarcomatoid (20 percent of diagnoses).
A surgical biopsy is a way to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and determine the stage of the disease. A surgeon will insert a needle in the abdomen or chest wall to take a small amount of tissue to be tested.
In other cases, doctors may remove the fluid that builds up in the pleura (called an effusion of the pleural cavity) or peritoneum to check it for mesothelioma. This is done by placing a tube down the throat of a person who has been sedated. It's referred to as an endobronchial ultra-sound needle biopsy.
Other methods of collecting mesothelioma tissue include fine needle biopsies and thoracoscopy. In these tests, doctors make use of scanning scans to direct a video camera into the abdomen or chest. This permits them to drain or remove samples of tissue to be examined by a pathologist. In certain cases the GP may also request an additional staining of the tissue sample. This test can be used to distinguish mesothelioma from other non-cancerous and cancerous tissue.
Treatment
If mesothelioma is diagnosed doctors will attempt to remove as much as possible. This can reduce the symptoms and decreases the chance that cancer could return. Doctors can also employ other methods to slow the growth of mesothelioma or stop it from spreading. These include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Doctors can also prescribe medicines to ease nausea, pain, and other symptoms.
The mesothelioma type you are diagnosed with determines the treatment options you have. You and your physician will discuss what you can expect from each treatment option and how it could impact your quality of life. This is known as shared decision making and it's crucial to the mesothelioma care team process.
Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lung's lining (pleura). The pleura covers and protects the lungs, chest wall and diaphragm. Pleural mesothelioma is different from lung cancer that occurs in the lungs.
During surgery, doctors could take a biopsy of the pleural tumor to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether it has spread. They can do this by VATS (video assisted thoracoscopic surgical) or a type of keyhole surgery or using CT guided needles to take an pleural sample to analyze under local anaesthetic.
If a mesothelioma is unresectable doctors can remove fluid from the pleura to alleviate breathlessness and ease pain in the chest. They can also provide palliative treatment to ease other symptoms, including fatigue, pain and loss of appetite.
Some patients choose to have radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy to try to shrink mesothelioma or stop it from spreading. These are the most common methods of care, however your doctor might suggest different methods of treatment if they think it will improve your chances of a good outcome.
If mesothelioma returns after treatment, it's known as recurrent mesothelioma. Certain people with mesothelioma that has recurred are able to take part in clinical trials of new treatments. Our Mesothelioma Research Tool can help you learn more about clinical trials. It shows how mesothelioma treatment trials have helped patients with similar tumors.
Prognosis
The outlook for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma depends on the type of cancerous cell, where the tumor is located, and if it has spread (metastasized) from the original site. Mesothelioma is classified as epithelial, sarcomatoid or biphasic cancers. Patients with mesothelioma that contains epithelioid cells tend to live longer to those who have an increased number of biphasic and sarcomatoid cancer cells.
Doctors use a physical exam and imaging tests to determine whether or not a patient is suffering from mesothelioma. They also review the patient's medical records and past asbestos exposure. The doctor may request a biopsy to obtain a small sample from the mass or tumor for laboratory testing. A biopsy can be carried out by undergoing surgery, inserting needles into the abdomen or chest or by eliminating fluid from the affected region using the procedure known as thoracentesis.
Mesothelioma is most prevalent in the pleura, the membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity; the peritoneum, which is the membrane that pleural mesothelioma lung cancer surrounds organs like the intestines, stomach and liver and the pericardium, the thin membrane that covers the heart. The disease typically affects men more than women and typically occurs in those over 60. Symptoms can develop 30 to 50 years following asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma symptoms may include abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, or coughing. Certain patients experience fluid accumulation in the abdomen, a condition referred to as ascites.
After diagnosing mesothelioma, doctors may perform imaging tests to determine if the cancer is spreading or to determine if there are other tumors within the body. They may also order tests on blood to assess a person's levels of certain proteins that are elevated in mesothelioma patients.
In addition to the surgical treatment, mesothelioma survivors can improve their odds of survival by making healthier lifestyle choices, including getting enough sleep and eating healthy eating habits. They can also learn to relax and reduce stress. A supportive network can also assist patients manage their illness.
The following is a list of preventatives.
The best way to avoid mesothelioma is by avoiding asbestos exposure. However many people are already at risk of developing the disease due to previous exposure. Regular screening can identify asbestos exposure early if you have a history of asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, develops on the tissues of organs and body structures. It is most often caused by exposure to asbestos. The cancer can affect the lungs, abdomen or the heart. There are a variety of types of mesothelioma. The most prevalent kind is pleural. It affects the linings of lung. It may also affect the lining of your abdomen (peritoneum) or testicles (asbestosis).
Asbestos is the primary cause of Mesothelioma. It can take 20 years or more for the symptoms to appear after exposure. People who are most at risk for mesothelioma include those who worked with asbestos as miners or construction workers, welders or in the automotive industry. People who were exposed during their military service to asbestos may also be at high risk.
There are four types of malignant pleural mesothelioma. They are classified based on the type of cells they form. They are epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic as well as mixed. Each type is treated differently.
Malignant mesothelioma of the pleural is the most frequent form of the disease. It develops when the lining of the lungs (pleura) develops abnormal cells that grow and form tumors. It is more prevalent in men than women.
It can be challenging for doctors to identify this condition because symptoms are often similar to those of other diseases or illnesses. Shortness of breath, coughing and chest pain are common symptoms. Lung fluid (pleural effusion) and a swelling of the lungs known as pulmonary edema are also common. The lining of the heart (pericardium) can develop abnormal cells that create mesothelioma pericardial. Mesothelioma may also develop in the testicles, which can cause distinct symptoms such as pain, a lump in the scrotum, or loss sexual function.
Other risk factors for mesothelioma can include a family history of mesothelioma, a history of other cancers or genetics. Regular X-rays, blood tests and other tests may help to detect asbestos in the lungs, or other indicators of lung disease.